News | Entertainment
27 Feb 2026 3:02
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    will.i.am was met by police at the airport after accusing a member of cabin crew of racism during a flight in Australia

    The 44-year-old rapper was travelling from Brisbane to Sydney on a Quantas flight when he took to Twitter to claim that he and his group were the subject of racist abuse from an "aggressive flight attendant"


    He also revealed that since he could not hear the announcements made by crew due to wearing noise cancelling headphones, the police were called to meet him at the airport.

    will.i.am included the hashtag RacistFlightattendant in his tweets and insisted that he was "targeted" by the employee.

    He wrote: "I'm currently on a flight from Brisbane to Sydney. I'm sorry to say me and my group have experienced they worse service due to a overly aggressive flight attendant... I don't want to believe she racist. But she has clearly aimed all her frustrations only at the people of colour (sic)."

    He added: "@Qantas I was making music wearing noise canceling headphones on the plane... I'm sorry i couldn't hear the P.A...I complied when she's tapped me on the shoulder to put my laptop away... It's sad that your #RacistFlightAttendant sent the police...

    "@Qantas Your #RacistFlightattendant was beyond rude & took it to the next level by calling the police on me. thank god the other passengers testified that SHE was out of Control the police finally let me go. imagine if the police were as aggressive (sic).

    "I was intimidated by 5 police officers when I landed...for what? I put away my laptop when she asked...why would she feel threatened by me to call the police? What did I do wrong? I wasn't out of hand.. I was polite & did what she asked... now you're asking me to take abuse?

    "No one said she was a white supremest... I said she singled every person of colourbin the flight and gave them a hard time...and went to the extreme of calling the police on me when I did nothing wrong...other passengers on the flight agreed that she was out of hand...

    "I'm sorry? Is callin the police on a passenger for not hearing he P.A due to wearing noise canceling headphones appropriate? If didn't put away my laptop 'in a rapid 2min time' I'd understand. I did comply quickly & politely, only to be greeted by police. I think I was targeted.

    "I am posting so that this doesn't happen again...it shouldn't happen to a Aboriginal, Latino, African, LGBTQ White, Red or anyone... everyone deserves to be treated with respect... (sic)."

    will also shared the employee's name on Twitter but later had to ask fans to stop sending abuse to her as she was targeted on social media.

    He said: "Please do not send Hate...This type of disrespect and name calling is uncalled for...I don't support abuse & attacks like this...I hope that everyone can be more compassionate & understanding towards one another...because it was the lack of compassion that caused this #noH8 (sic)."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     26 Feb: Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault
     26 Feb: BAFTA judge Jonte Richardson has resigned following the racial slur row which overshadowed Sunday night's (22.02.26) ceremony
     26 Feb: Kerry Katona will "100 per cent get married" to her boyfriend Paolo Margaglione
     26 Feb: Frankie Bridge was "terrified" of starting ketamine therapy because she had never taken drugs before
     26 Feb: Hilary Duff's "heart aches" for her former Lizzie McGuire co-star Robert Carradine
     26 Feb: Zachery Ty Bryan has been sentenced to 16 months in prison over a DUI arrest
     26 Feb: AJ Styles will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame over WrestleMania weekend
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Tyrel Lomax is closing in on a return to top level rugby after five months sidelined More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Air New Zealand's dismissing David Seymour's claims its financial strife is down to 'woke' endeavours More...



     Today's News

    Rugby:
    Tyrel Lomax is closing in on a return to top level rugby after five months sidelined 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault 21:51

    Entertainment:
    BAFTA judge Jonte Richardson has resigned following the racial slur row which overshadowed Sunday night's (22.02.26) ceremony 21:21

    Law and Order:
    A person has died in hospital following a major incident in Christchurch's Northcote last Wednesday 21:17

    Law and Order:
    Pro-democracy Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai's fraud offence overturned 21:07

    International:
    New image taken by ALMA telescope reveals 'extraordinary' detail of Milky Way's central zone 20:57

    Entertainment:
    Kerry Katona will "100 per cent get married" to her boyfriend Paolo Margaglione 20:51

    International:
    Cuba claims 'armed terrorist infiltration' prevented during open water speedboat shootout 20:37

    Entertainment:
    Frankie Bridge was "terrified" of starting ketamine therapy because she had never taken drugs before 20:21

    Entertainment:
    Hilary Duff's "heart aches" for her former Lizzie McGuire co-star Robert Carradine 19:51


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd